Welcome back to our McDaniel’s Bite-Sized Reviews series! This is a series dedicated to testing out products in the market and giving our honest, expert review so you know exactly what to look for next time you’re at the grocery store.
FYI – these posts aren’t sponsored. They are opinions of unpaid tastebuds.
Check out some of our past reviews:
Oatly Oat Milk
Yogi Detox Tea
What Are Perfect Bars?
Perfect Bars are energy bars, marketed as “whole-food bars” that have become very popular over the past year. They come in a variety of flavors, such as Lemon Poppyseed, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Blueberry Cashew. What sets them apart from other energy bars is that due to their organic ingredients, they need to be refrigerated.
Perfect Snacks is a family run company. Their website says, “Our family’s mission is to nourish world kind with a hug, good vibes, and a delicious dose of fresh, whole food nutrition. To us, that’s the recipe to make life a little more, well, perfect!” Now, how sweet is that!
Why Did We Try Perfect Bars?
These days it seems like we are always on the go! Sometimes you just need a quick and easy bar to hold you over until your next meal. Plus, the two main ingredients in the Perfect Bars are peanut butter and chocolate. Who doesn’t love peanut butter and chocolate together? We wanted to review the Perfect Bars to help you decide if they are worth the hype.
Perfect Bars: How Many Stars?
Our 5-Star Rating
Flavor: 5/5
Enjoying the Perfect Bar is like indulging in a nice dessert. However, we think you need to be a peanut butter fan to thoroughly enjoy the bars. In a perfect world, it tastes best out of the fridge. But either way – still great!
Nutrient Density: 3/5
The Perfect Bar calories range from 300-340 kcals per bar, which makes this a calorie-dense food. The bar is packed with a good amount of protein, 15 grams, as well as fiber at 4 grams. These bars are an appropriate snack for an active individual or an athlete, as a post-workout recovery snack, or someone looking to add more calories and protein into their diet. However, due to its high calorie content, it may not be the best option for a sedentary individual with low energy needs.
Moreover, fat content, mainly coming from the peanut butter, is on the higher end at 20 grams. The bars provide 10% calcium, 6% iron and 10% potassium, which is slightly higher than the other bars we compared with, such as Cliff Bars, Quest Bars, and Pro Live Bars. Check out this comparison chart for more information on energy bars.
We wanted to compare the nutrition facts with other energy bars that are loaded with chocolate and peanut butter. We found that the higher calorie content correlates with the higher fat content found in the Perfect Bar and Probar. The best energy bar for you will depend on the type of day you are having and the purpose of the energy bar. Need higher protein and healthy fat? A Perfect Bar would be a good choice!
Added Sugars
The Perfect Bar does have a lot of added sugar, which mainly comes from the honey. There are about 12-18 grams of added sugar per bar, depending on the flavor. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons (24g) for women and 9 teaspoons (36g) for men of added sugar per day. Although the bars are quite tasty, it’s important to remember that we do not get any positive benefits from the added sugar in these bars.
“Superfoods:” Life-Changing Effect or Halo Effect?
According to the research, no standard criteria or legal definitions classify any food as a superfood at this time. “Superfoods” generally describe nutrient-dense foods that are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and are typically lower in calories. Focusing your diet on including a variety of whole fruits and veggies daily will provide more health benefits than a “superfood powder.” While the addition of “superfoods” won’t hurt, we think that eating fresh fruits and vegetables offers more nutritional power for a fraction of the cost!
Value: 2/5
We also wanted to evaluate the price point for the bars. Price for Perfect Bars ranges from ~$2.50 – $3.00 per bar at the stores, which can quickly add up to your grocery bill. Check out the recipe blog here to see how you can create these at home, for only $0.50 a bar!
Total Score: 3.5/5
Where To Find Them:
These bars can be found in the refrigerated section of Target, Walgreens, Trader Joe’s or Dierbergs. You can also order them online.
How We Enjoyed Them:
We enjoyed them as a post-workout snack. We will definitely be enjoying these bars again!
This article was written by our dietetic intern, Mariah Singler.